Newark to Farndon and an emergency return! (6 miles, 2 locks)

We haven't had much luck since we gave up our last 2 month's winter mooring at Bardney!  Wishing we had sat still!

Yes the engine is in kit form.....

A week or so ago, we had set off from Kings Marina, Newark, whilst the weather was fine, water level not bad and all things good with the world.

Approaching Town Lock with a good bit of water coming in from the river (left)

Thankfully out of the strong stream and in the lock approach

Entering the lock

Our intention was to get to Gunthorpe mooring on the Trent and that would do for the first day.  We knew that the old Lister had an oil leak, and Richard had fully intended to strip the engine one day and rebuild it with all new gaskets etc.

Passing Newark Marina - another marina just out of Newark town

Past the power station, Richard decided that the old girl was struggling a little and suggested that we drop the butty onto 'cross-straps' to relieve a bit of pressure on the engine.  I stayed on the big boat and we did a couple of miles dragging the butty but at the mercy of the wind and the water flow.

On a line

No good.  Richard suggested that I climb up onto the bow of the butty, crawl along the top planks of the butty to the stern and begin steering as he dropped the butty onto a line.  This means that the prop wash isn't corrupted by the bow wave of the butty.  We usually operate the pair this way on the canal as it saves fuel and means that I am independent.

Moored at Farndon for a couple of days

Still made no difference to our progress!  Richard pulled the butty back alongside the motor, reattached and we wound the boats to return to the recently passed Farndon.

View towards the pub - to the right is a lovely nature reserve where we were able to walk the dogs

Richard was mystified as to why the engine wasn't able to cope as the flow didn't seem too bad. Down the weed hatch, we discovered bailing twine and other lengths of rubbish, which would not have helped.  The engine itself didn't seem hot or anything other than the leak, but when Richard took a couple of panels off, he found that we needed a new fuel lift pump.  This would have explained our intermittent power.

View from Farndon Marina - our pair are in the distance on the bend

The following day, he walked back to Newark with Reilly and ordered a new pump from Parkinsons, whilst I went for a quick run round the block with Lister.
The pump was installed the next morning and we set off again, only to wind a little way up the river as the engine decided to drip with oil with renewed vigour from at least 2 locations!

Back at Kings Marina Newark (half way down the row of boats)

We whizzed back to the lock (it was a bit scary after the steady plod upstream) and then into the marina, where Rob still had a vacant double space, we could use.

The weir above Nether Lock, Newark

And this is where you find us, until the engine is repaired to Richard's high standards, the water from all the snow in the Midlands has gone and the weather is half decent.

Newark Castle ruins

The gaskets have arrived and Richard is painstakingly rebuilding the engine as we speak.  The main leak, he had discovered was underneath the fuel pump, which meant the gearbox and some large chunks of the engine had to be taken off to get to it!

Richard walks the boys around the castle grounds yesterday

We have been out with the dogs everyday trying to encourage them to play together, which is lovely to see and has alleviated the stress of the engine repairs.

Ref Notts County Council website : Early in 1881, Charlotte, Viscountess Ossington, proposed to present the town of Newark with a new cafe or "Coffee Tavern". It was to be built close to the River Trent, opposite the Castle and cattle market, on land purchased from the Handley family. The purpose of the coffee house was "to promote the cause of temperance therein" and hopefully lure farmers away from the town's public houses!!

We do enjoy Newark when we moor here. The town is a good mixture of shops with a marketplace and lot of lovely places to eat.

We have had visits from friends and family whilst we've been here and will miss the town when we leave hopefully mid week. Let's just hope that the repairs don't throw any other problems up!